Seeding filter

[BIGBRU]

Just wondering , I have a fluval 303 someone gave me , I am planning on putting it on a 45 gal. I put it on my 55 (along with my HOB) for now with bio rings and the foam pad. I was wondering if I put some gravel from my 55 in the third chamber will that work for seeding faster. And how long should I let it run on my 55. thanks for any suggestions

 

[ThePBM]

the gravel won't be a good idea. just let both of them run on your established tank for 10 days. then move it to your 45, but only add an equivalent to about half of the bioload in your 55 at first right away, and then slowly add more fish to your desired stocking.

 

[joey02]

does the hob filter on the 55 have a foam pad or some thing like that?? if so try to squise(sp) the sponge into the 303 to trannsfer soem of the ben. bac.... that would speed it up

 

[DasArab]

does the hob filter on the 55 have a foam pad or some thing like that?? if so try to squise(sp) the sponge into the 303 to trannsfer soem of the ben. bac.... that would speed it up

Yes this is what I would do too. Is the 45 already set up? When you do a water change on the 55 I would also put the old water into the 45.

 

[BIGBRU]

the 45 is not setup yet, the next time I do a w/c I was going to put in the 45. I was just wondering about the gravel. thanks

 

[bigcichntwisted]

the 45 is not setup yet, the next time I do a w/c I was going to put in the 45. I was just wondering about the gravel. thanks

Hey BIG, that's a def. go w/ the gravel/substrate, bio balls, scrubbies, what ever you have, even well seeded mech. can be used i.e. filter/floss pads etc. I've used Fluval can.'s for 20+ yr.'s now & that is what I do w/ all my new set ups (as do many of us). Additionally I add seeded (from existing cycled tank) gravel to any new tank just as a substrate on the bttm also. Sorry, fact is used water doesn't add much beneficial concentrated bio, I don't add more than 10-15% used water. Any time you can use existing bio (gravel, scrubbies, rings, even driftwood & large aquascape rocks are benificial) you dramatically decrease the total needed cycle time, if at all. Don't add sludge from the bttm, but tank water, rinsed gravel/substrate i.e bio, is great.

I just cycled a 215 gal. in less than 3 days total using this method. 1 wk B4 set up, I took 2 chambers of scrubbies & rings from an existing 405 + 4 Whisper 60 filter pads, all well seeded, added them to a fx5, then ran the fx5 for bout a wk w/ some additional scrubbies added to the fx5 (it's internal volume is huge). Seeded the fx5 bout a wk (4-5 days), then broke dwn my tank, moved all the substrate/gravel/crushed coral etc., to the new tank & then added 85% new water (shoulda been 95% new. ooop's was a long day/night/day, LOL). I've done this (type tank set up a dozen + x's) w/ 4-5 cups of substrate from a very well seeded tank, added the same seeded gravel/substrate to brand new filter (4-5 cups also or equal percentage to filter/tank size), added all 100% new water, balanced the water parameter's needed for specific fish i.e. removed chlorine, raised ph, added rift salt etc., added fish w/ in bout 2-4 hr.'s & never even experienced a cycle in the tank's. But you must have good flow/gph 5-7x's at least, more the better.

As long as you have w/ very good flow/gph, very well seeded substrate to act as your bio, seeding takes place immediately upon a few turnovers of the tank (couple hr.'s or so w/ very good flow/gph). This is how many LFS's set their tanks up all the time (100's of tanks at a time, which is where I learned), handful of seeded gravel in the bttm of the tank, some in the filter & ya good ta go mate. Just don't worry much w/ the old water, no matter what condition it's in, fresh, new then seeded is always the best you can create.

Go for it mate, you'll be very glad you did & you'll never look bck.

 

[bigcichntwisted]

I was wondering if I put some gravel from my 55 in the third chamber will that work for seeding faster.

Answered that part for sure, LOL.

And how long should I let it run on my 55.

If you only ran it on your 55 & didn't add any old bio, then I would say safely at least 2 wk's, but add the gravel/sustrate & you'll be on your way in hr.'s, not days.

 

[BIGBRU]

Sounds good, thats what I am going to do. Thanks for the excellent answer, now I just need to decide what to put in it.